Coffee grounds are effective at repelling pests because of the strong smell. The smell of coffee is repulsive to many bugs and will keep them away from treated areas. Coffee grounds can be used fresh or used, but unused coffee grounds are more effective at repelling pests.
As such, some websites suggest placing coffee grounds around your home to keep roaches away. However, in a 2020 study published in the International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research, researchers tested this out and found that coffee grounds were not very effective at repelling cockroaches.
You may love your morning coffee, but ants could do without it. Another natural way to deter ants, sprinkle coffee grounds outside and around your garden. The smell repels them and they'll be looking for a less caffeinated place to hang out. Want to keep your home clean and clear of ants?
Compost coffee grounds for a vegetable garden instead of using them directly. Remember, coffee grounds are not good for tomatoes or seedlings. Get a soil test, especially if your plants are not thriving or you want to change the acidity of the soil.
While many budding gardeners may be concerned that coffee grounds can attract pests, the reality is quite to the contrary. In fact, when implemented correctly, coffee grounds can be an effective way to repel certain pests such as wasps, snails, and mosquitoes.
Coffee is not just beneficial outdoors! There are also a number of household uses for coffee grounds. It can help get rid of bad smells, scrub up dirty messes, or protect your pets. Neutralizes Odors — The nitrogen found in coffee is not only beneficial in the garden, but it also helps inside your home as well.
Coffee Grounds
Not only do coffee grounds smell good, but they also work wonders when it comes to warding off unwelcome guests such as spiders. Simply sprinkle some used coffee grounds near entry points and other problem spots throughout the house for extra protection.
Coffee's bitter compounds are responsible for its repelling effects. These compounds make the coffee unpalatable to rats and mice. They will avoid areas where there is the use of coffee grounds.
Both cayenne and black pepper repel ants. Ants hate cayenne pepper. Black pepper will work just as well too. Locate the source of the ant infestation problem, sprinkle some pepper around that area and if possible, create a wall that will stop the ants from accessing your household.
While cockroaches aren't huge fans of the coffee grounds you use at your house, they really like eating freshly processed green coffee. This is where they, and other insects, get into the coffee food chain. There's no way to avoid bugs when you process raw products.
The best way to keep cockroaches away permanently is to make the home less inviting. Make sure to keep the home clean, clean up food messes, take out trash at the end of the day, seal any cracks or gaps around windows, doors and the foundation, and fix any issue that might lead to high moisture content within the home.
Sprinkle boric acid in areas the roaches frequent; when they walk through it, it sticks to them. They later ingest the boric acid, which then kills them. When using boric acid, be sure to limit your exposure; don't place it anywhere that children or pets might find it, as it's toxic when ingested.
Other Natural Repellents
Mothballs — place them around the perimeter, and their pungent smell will repel snakes. Vinegar — mix it with water and spray often. Caffeine — sprinkle coffee grounds or instant coffee granules. Spices — chili powder and cayenne pepper work the best.
Coffee beans, grounds and brewed coffee contain caffeine, a very dangerous and toxic chemical to cats and dogs. Ingestion can be life threatening. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, a moderate amount of coffee can easily cause death in small dogs or cats.
Keep It Shelved
The best way to keep ground coffee or whole beans fresh is to store the coffee on a pantry shelf in an opaque, airtight container.
Although they can keep mice away for some time, dryer sheets should not be used as a long-term solution to prevent mice from entering a home. House mice are adaptable creatures; it will only take a few days for them to get used to the smell of dryer sheets.
Odors and smells that come from pet waste, pet food, garbage containers, barbecue grills, birdfeeders, and even from unharvested fruit and nuts from plants can attract rats and mice. Good sanitation habits can effectively improve the prevention of attracting rodents in your yard.
Yeah don't worry rats have been eating coffee and ground coffee for hundreds of years. The rats run around and make some noise and eat some more coffee and they're just fine!
It's easy to keep spiders away using natural products. These eight-legged creatures hate the smell of citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges. They also don't like peppermint oils, tea tree oils, eucalyptus, and vinegar. Using any of these around your home will keep spiders away.
Using a natural spider repellent such as essential oils and citronella can help keep these arachnids away while sleeping. However, these need to be combined with good cleaning habits, so here's how to properly clean your home and discourage them from entering.
Spiders really don't like strong scents such as citrus, peppermint, tea-tree, lavender, rose or cinnamon. Add 15 to 20 drops of your chosen essential oil or a couple of capfuls of Zoflora fragrance to a spray bottle filled with water, and spritz around the house.
To use coffee grounds as a fertilizer, sprinkle them thinly onto the soil or add them to your compost pile. Spreading coffee grounds throughout your garden will also attract insects, such as, worms.
Around the Home
Coffee grounds have been used for over a century to mask food odors in homes and stores. If you have smells in your kitchen, living room, even in the refrigerator or freezer, put out some fresh or even dried coffee grounds to make your home smell much nicer.
By increasing the surface area of the coffee, ground coffee oxidises faster. If unopened, coffee grounds last around five months. After opening, exposure to the air speeds up the oxidation process – around 3-4 months. These same rules apply to coffee bags.